Bumper



W. S. MARTIN BUMPER Filed Nov. 25 19g mm; E 7% 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 15, new.

er "rae F A T WALLACE S. MARTIN, OF MONONGAEELA, PENNSYLVANM.

BUMPER.

Application filed November 25, 1922. Serial No. $08,258.

is to provide a bumper of simple construction which possesses great resiliency and strength and is so constructed as to readily give when an object is struck by the bar. A further object is to provide a bar which may be readily produced at comparatively small cost. Further objects will appear from the detailed descri tion.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the bar;

Figure 2 is a front view;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. l;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-4: of Fig. 1;

F igure' 5'is a section takensubstantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-45 of The bumper includes two side members 1 formed from a length of steel or other suitable material possessing the requisite strength and resiliency. These members are bent to provide rear attaching) arms 2 by means of which members 1 may e secured to thechassis of an automobile. At their forward portions members 1 are bent outwardly to form outwardly curved elements 3 from the forward ends of which extend loops 4; which are connected by semi-circular elements 5 to rearwardly curving arms 6 at the forward ends of members 1. Arms 6 fit between a front bar 7 and end elements 8 of this bar which are bent rearwardly and inwardly into substantial parallelism with end portions 7 of bar 7, elements 7 and 8 being disposed substantially concentric with the outer end portions of arms 6. Elements 3 and 5 of members 1 are secured together by clips 9 so as to prevent spreading of loops 4, and each loop 4 is secured, at its forward portion, by a clip 10 and a bolt 11 on which is threaded a nut 12, to front bar 7 and to a guard frame 13 of substantially elongated elliptical shape which is positioned adjacent to the inner face of bar 7 at the central orti'on thereof, bolt 11 passing through bar and frame 13.

Frame 13 is preferably provided, at each end, with diverging fingers 14 which serve, invconjunction with frame 13, to provide a strikin surface ofcomparatively great area adapted for contact with an object in front of the automobile. This provides a bumper es of comparatively simple construction and which possesses great strength and resiliency so as to prevent serious injury to a person struck by the bumper.

End portion 7 of front bar 7 is provided,

in its inner face, with a longitudinally extending groove 7 which receives a lug 6 which projects from the outer face of the forward portion of front arm 6. This provides a sliding connection between bar 7 and the outer end portions of arms 6 so that upon impact of bar 7 with an object this bar can be distorted so as to slide inwardly upon arms 6, the inherent resiliency of bar 7 acting to return it to normal position after the presso sure is removed. The arms 6, due to their arcuate shape, and loops 4: co-act to provide, in effect, spring supporting means for bar 7 and act to absorb shocks upon bar 7 striking an object, also providing cushion means which permit relatively reat movement of bar 7 upon this bar striking an object thus preventing serious injury to a person struck bv the bumper.

This bumper may be secured to an automobile in any suitable or referred manner, one form of'which is illustrated. In this particular instance the arms 2 may be secured to the chassis of the automobile by bolts or in any other suitable manner, and

members 1 are provided with rectangular brackets 15 secured thereto, these brackets being provided with openings 16 adapted for reception of suitably shaped members for securing brackets 15 to the lamp brackets of mo the automobile.

This provides simple and efficient means for securing the bumper to automobiles of the type in which the front spring is disposed transversely of the automobile body, such as the Ford automobile.

U-brackets 17 are secured by bolts 18 and nuts 19 to the inner sides of loops 4:. Each of these brackets is preferably, though not necessarily, formed of two sections 17 which are hingedly connected by bolt 18, as 11 illustrated. These sections may be forced toward each other by means of a bolt 20 l passing throu h the sections, a nut 21 being threaded on t is bolt. Each section 17 is further provided with an o ening 22 adapted for reception of the en s 'of' eye bolt 23 which passes throu h the forward end of the front springs of the automobile. This provides in conjunction with bracket 15, simple and efficient means whereby the bumper may be readily secured to automobile's having front springs disposed longitudinally and is held rigidly in position. As previously stated, however, any suitable or preferred means may be provided for attaching the bumper to the automobile. Preferably, though not necessarily, I provide a reinforcing plate 24 which is secured, by riveting or in any other suitable or preferred manner, to the central portion of bar 7 this plate serving to reinforce and impart ri idity to bar 7.

at I claim is I 1. In a bumper, side members adapted for attachment to an automobile, said members being provided at their forward ends with curved resilient arms, the side members being further provided with loop elements connecting sald side members and the arms, and a bar connectin the forward ends of the arms, said bar belng secured to the forward portions of the loop elements.

2. In a bumper, side members adapted for attachment to an automobile, said members being provided at their forward ends with aeaaeea curved resilient arms, the side members being further provided with 100 elements connecting said side members an the arms, a bar connecting the forward ends of the arms, said bar being secured to the forward portions of the loop elements, and means for slidably connecting the ends ofthe bar to ,said arms.

3. In a bumper, side members adapted to be secured to an automobile, arcuate resilient arms at the forward ends of said members, loops connecting said members and the arms, a bar having its terminal portions bent to provide terminal elements, the forward ends of said arms fitting between the bar and said terminal elements, means f0; slidably connecting the arms to the terminal portions of said bar, means for secur ing the bar to the forward portions of the loops, and means for securing the rearward portions of the loops to an automobile.

4. In a bumper, side members adapted to be secured to an automobile, arcuate resilient arms at the forward ends of said members, loops connecting said members and the arms, a bar connecting the forward ends of said arms, means for securing the bar to the forward portions of said loops, and means for securing the rearward portions of the loops to an automobile.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALLACE S. MARTIN. 

